Huntsville gazette., 1887-12-24
*Member OF the Forty-ninth Congress.
Member Of a preceding Congress.
The list of contested seats Is as fOlloMa
GUARDING THE GAR.
He Is Constantly Surrounded by Swarm
of Soldiers and Detectives.

He Is Constantly surrounded DY swarm
of Soldiers and Detectives.
A few nights ago / attended the il.
luminations at Peterhoff in honor OF
the Czarina's birthday. The Cars
palace is on a peninsula and the
grounds and buildings occupy almost
mile square-the most superb struct-
ures, fountains. and miles Of the finest
parking and drives in the world.
Scores of buildings and fountains,
hundreds of trees and great crowns,
crosses, and figures, besides miles Of
high wal s. were covered with colored
lamps. There were millions of lights
and it required regiment of soldiers
and hundreds of civilians weeks to put
them in place. All was paid for from
the public treasury, or rather Gar 9
treasury repleted by the people.
At time in the evening when the
fountains and lights glistened most
the bands p aged loudest and the pyro
technics ard cannon from the men-of-
war in the gulf glared and roared
best, the royal family gave the assem-
bled multitude rare treat. 1t showed
itself Seldom it is that people In
Russia see their Emperor, their Gar,
because he suspects them of designs.
l was making my way between two
of the great blazing walls Of colored
lights, through one of the drives,
when detachment of Cossacks came
dashing along slashing their sabers anG
driving the people out of the way. 4
their wake came soldiers on foot and
great detachments of men in citizens
clothing. The latter stationed them
selves in front of the lines of the
masses A din of voices-lusty cheer
inc is heard in the distance. 1t comes
nearer, then nearer. More Cossacks,
more soldiers, more men in citizens
clothing, and farther back we are
crowded. The tier of officious citi-
zens is re-enforced in our front anf
many linger in the driveway. Finally
the caravan comes in view. More
Cossacks, soldiers, citizens. Eight
white horses. each one on the left
bearing liveryman, are next seen;
then the royal equipage, an immense,
gold-mounted chariot The Gar, y
great purly fellow, with full beard
crown and uniform. is on the left sea
in front. The brother. the Crow
Prince, the Czarina, and Grand d axes
etc make up the load. On every hant
of the carriage, four deep. are Cossacks
while the driveway in front and re al
is blocked with soldiery, making aper-
feet shield against violent attack.
The 'citizens" who were so very
plentiful and officious were the most
experienced detectives and body
guards in the Empire. There Were
thousands of them. 1t would have
been impossible for one TO raise his or
her hand against the Gar or any
member of his family. 1t is the boast
of the Russian authorities that their
detectives have eyes in every portion
of their heads and bodies The whole
service of protecting the crown and
members of the family, and suppress
ing all thoughts of dissatisfaction with
the present form Of government is in
full charge of Gresser, chief of the
secret service. The authority of this
officer is appalling. He can order
into exile or the execution yard any
one suspected of unlawful OF disre-
spectful act OF intentions. He attends
the theaters, and may be said 10 rur
all places of amusement If he IS
displeased with any thing he suppresses
il, and there is no redress. IN J
Sun.